Gorski graduated from U.S. Air Force Academy

Col. Steven M. Gorski smiles during his Assumption of Command ceremony as he prepares to take the helm of the Air Force Technical Applications Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Jurgens)

BREVARD COUNTY • PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA –Despite temperatures in the mid-90s and humidity at 80 percent, Airmen with the Air Force Technical Applications Center stood in early morning formation to render a welcoming salute to their new commander, Col. Steven M. Gorski.

The nuclear treaty monitoring center held an assumption of command ceremony July 25 in front of the center’s state-of-the-art headquarters building, as Gorski accepted the unit’s guidon from 25th Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Bradford “BJ” Shwedo.

Gorski, a career intelligence officer, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996 with a degree in physics. In 2002, he was selected to attend the Air Force Institute of Technology, where he earned a master’s degree in engineering physics.

Maj. Gen. Bradford “BJ” Shwedo, commander of 25th Air Force, passes the unit guidon to Col. Steven M. Gorski (right) during an Assumption of Command ceremony of the Air Force Technical Applications Center, (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Jurgens)

“AFTAC has an amazingly gifted team that continually ‘wows’ senior leadership all the way up to the president of the United States,” said Shwedo.

“Col. Gorski is equally amazing and is up to the task to lead this center. I am confident you will be totally impressed with the Airmen here at AFTAC and the work ethic they display each and every day, Steve, and with everything that’s going on in the world right now, you definitely will be gainfully employed!”

With nearly 300 people in attendance, Gorski greeted his new subordinates, thanked Shwedo for the opportunity to lead them, and briefly touched on his command philosophy.

“As we look forward, this is a critical time for AFTAC,” he said. “In the volatile global political environment we find ourselves, it is obvious the need for a national strategy of deterrence is as important now as when AFTAC’s mission was first created.”

“For my part, I promise to give you the guidance and advocate for the resources you need to succeed so that together we can continue to innovate and build upon your demonstrated excellence.”

He added, “Together, we will continue the distinguished legacy of AFTAC.”

An assumption of command recognizes the transfer of authority to an incoming commander, and allows the men and women of the command to witness the formal event. Today’s time-honored tradition showcased just how the change occurs with four simple words by the incoming officer: “Sir, I assume command.”

Gorski assumed command of the nation’s premier nuclear treaty monitoring organization that is responsible for operating and maintaining a global network of nuclear event detection equipment, making it the largest sensor network in the U.S. Air Force.